The first quarter of a property year sets the tone. It reveals whether the trends that began the previous autumn are confirmed or reversed, whether buyers are returning or holding back, whether sellers are adjusting their expectations or holding firm. In Q1 2026, the Paris market sends a clear signal: the recovery is here, cautious but real.
At Home Select, our 16 property hunters handled a volume of mandates up 18% compared to Q1 2025. This quarterly barometer synthesises our field observations, cross-referenced with data from the Paris notaries and DVF records, to provide a precise overview of the Parisian market at the start of the year.
Overview: The Market Recovers
The average price per square metre in Paris stands at 10,450 euros in Q1 2026. This figure marks an inflection point: after a cumulative correction of 7 to 8% between the mid-2022 peak and the mid-2025 trough, Parisian prices show a progression of +1.2% compared to Q4 2025. The decline is over, stabilisation is established, and a moderate recovery trend is taking shape.
Transaction volumes confirm this reading. The number of sales recorded in Paris intra-muros during the first three months of 2026 is up approximately 12-15% compared to the same period in 2025. This volume recovery reflects the gradual return of buyers who had deferred their plans during the rate hike phase. Market liquidity is improving, which is a healthy signal: a market that transacts is a market that self-regulates.
The average negotiation margin stands at around 5.5% in Q1 2026. This figure is slightly down from the 6.2% observed in H2 2025, a sign that sellers are regaining confidence and adjusting their asking prices to market reality. Our property hunters nonetheless achieve higher margins for their clients, averaging 6% on Home Select mandates, thanks to their detailed knowledge of actual transaction prices and their negotiation skills.
Prices by Arrondissement: The Full Picture
The arrondissement-by-arrondissement analysis reveals a multi-speed market. The table below summarises average observed prices and changes from the previous quarter.
The historic core arrondissements maintain their premium. The 6th arrondissement, at 15,800 euros/sqm, remains the most expensive in Paris, driven by scarce stock and international demand. The 7th follows at 14,200 euros/sqm, with a slight increase of +0.8% over the quarter. The 4th (13,600 euros/sqm) and the 1st (13,500 euros/sqm) complete this top four, where prices barely dipped during the 2023-2025 correction phase.
The upscale Right Bank arrondissements, the 8th (12,100 euros/sqm), 16th (12,400 euros/sqm) and 17th (10,600 euros/sqm), show remarkable stability. The 16th, in particular, benefits from renewed interest from families seeking large living spaces, a segment we will revisit.
The so-called “dynamic” arrondissements are those recording the sharpest increases. The 9th (10,800 euros/sqm, +2.8% over the quarter) confirms its status as a rising star, attracting young executives and families drawn by its Haussmannian architecture and central location. The 11th (10,200 euros/sqm, +2.3%) continues its upward trajectory. The 18th (9,200 euros/sqm, +2.1%), despite its mixed image, benefits from bargain hunters priced out of central arrondissements.
The peripheral arrondissements, the 13th (8,600 euros/sqm), 19th (7,800 euros/sqm) and 20th (8,400 euros/sqm), remain the most affordable. Their Q1 progression is modest (+0.5 to +1%), as these areas are more dependent on the borrowing capacity of first-time buyers, still constrained by current mortgage rates.
Volumes and Selling Times: The Market Pulse
Beyond prices, two indicators measure the actual vitality of the market: transaction volumes and selling times.
Q1 2026 volumes mark a significant rebound from the 2024 trough. While still below the record levels of 2019-2021 (approximately 35,000-38,000 annual transactions in Paris), the trajectory is clearly upward. This volume recovery is driven by the convergence of several factors: adjusted prices, a gradual easing of rates, and the return of confidence among households who had put their plans on hold.
The average selling time is a particularly revealing indicator. It stands at 72 days in Q1 2026, a notable decline from 85 days the previous quarter and 95 days observed at the height of the slowdown in 2024. This shortening of selling times signals a market regaining fluidity.
But this average masks highly contrasting realities. In the tightest micro-markets, certain areas of the 6th, the 7th, the heart of the Marais and the south of the 9th, correctly priced properties find buyers in under 40 days, sometimes within just a few viewings. Conversely, in the 13th, 19th and 20th arrondissements, selling times remain above 90 days, reflecting a market where supply still exceeds solvent demand.
For our property hunters, this differential in selling times directly shapes the search strategy. In competitive areas, responsiveness is paramount: you must identify the property, view it and make an offer within 48 to 72 hours. In more relaxed areas, patience and negotiation become the key assets.
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Key Structural Trends of the Quarter
Several underlying trends emerge from this first quarter and deserve buyers’ attention.
The return of investors is notable, though selective. Parisian rental yields, compressed between 2.5% and 5.5% depending on the arrondissement, are regaining relative appeal as the gap with borrowing rates narrows. Investors are focusing on the arrondissements offering the best yields (18th, 19th, 20th at 4% to 5.5%) and on shared rental or furnished letting strategies that optimise returns.
Market polarisation is intensifying. The price gap between the 6th (15,800 euros/sqm) and the 19th (7,800 euros/sqm) reaches a ratio of 2 to 1, a historically high level. This polarisation reflects two markets coexisting within the same city: a prestige market, relatively insensitive to rates, and a primary residence market, directly correlated to household borrowing capacity.
The EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) question continues to weigh. Properties rated F and G suffer a discount of 10 to 20% compared to equivalent better-rated properties, and their selling times are lengthening. The regulatory calendar, with the ban on renting G-rated properties since 2025 and F-rated scheduled for 2028, creates selling pressure that generates opportunities for buyers willing to undertake energy renovation works. This is a lever our property hunters regularly activate, with the analysis of EPC and its impact on prices forming an integral part of our assessment of each property.
The Supply Side: Seller Behaviour
Parisian sellers in Q1 2026 fall into two distinct categories. “Realistic” sellers, who have absorbed the price correction and position their properties in line with recent transactions (DVF data), represent a growing majority. Their properties sell within reasonable timeframes, with negotiation of 3 to 5%.
“Wait-and-see” sellers, still clinging to 2022 valuations, constitute a resistant but visible minority. Their properties accumulate on listing portals, with marketing times often exceeding 120 days. These situations paradoxically create opportunities for well-advised buyers: after several months without an offer, these sellers become open to substantial negotiations, sometimes 8 to 12%.
The art of the property hunter lies precisely in distinguishing these two populations and adapting strategy accordingly. On a realistically priced property in a competitive area, you must be quick and propose a price close to the asking price. On an overvalued property that has been on the market for a long time, patience and a well-crafted offer can unlock an advantageous deal.
Q2 2026 Outlook
Q1 signals allow us to sketch the spring trends, traditionally the most active season for the Paris market. Several factors support a scenario of continued moderate recovery.
Mortgage rates should stabilise or begin a slight easing if the ECB continues its rate-cutting cycle. Each tenth of a percentage point gained on rates translates into increased borrowing capacity which, across thousands of potential buyers, feeds demand.
The seasonal effect will play its usual role: spring sees an influx of both sellers (who want to benefit from the good weather for viewings) and buyers (who anticipate moving in by the start of the school year). This surge in activity should keep volumes on the rise.
In terms of prices, an increase of 1 to 2% over 2026 is the central scenario. The dynamic arrondissements (9th, 11th, 18th) could outperform, while premium areas should remain stable. The detailed analysis of prices by arrondissement and the perspective on ten years of price evolution help place this cycle within a longer trend.
For buyers weighing up whether to act now or wait, the Home Select view is as follows: Q1 2026 marked the low point of the cycle. Buying today means benefiting from still-adjusted prices and substantial negotiation margins. Waiting for a further drop in rates or prices means risking a more competitive market where good deals become scarce. The best time to buy remains when your project is ready and your financing is secured.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average price per sqm in Paris in Q1 2026?
In Q1 2026, the average price per sqm in Paris stands at 10,450 euros, a slight increase of +1.2% compared to Q4 2025. This average masks significant disparities between arrondissements, ranging from 7,800 euros/sqm in the 19th to 15,800 euros/sqm in the 6th.
Which Paris arrondissements saw the biggest increases in Q1 2026?
The 9th arrondissement shows the strongest growth of the quarter (+2.8%), driven by strong demand from young professionals and families. The 11th (+2.3%) and the 18th (+2.1%) also confirm their upward trajectory, supported by attractive value for money.
Will Paris property prices continue to rise in 2026?
Signals from Q1 2026 indicate stabilisation with a slight upward trend in most arrondissements. The recovery in volumes and the gradual easing of mortgage rates support the market, but a return to 2022 levels is unlikely in the short term.
What is the average time to sell an apartment in Paris in Q1 2026?
The average selling time in Paris stands at 72 days in Q1 2026, down from 85 days in Q4 2025. In the most competitive areas (6th, 7th, Marais), this drops below 40 days for correctly priced properties.
